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Providing evidence of your right to study

It is a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) requirement that at the start of their programme all students, including UK citizens and York Online students residing in the UK, provide the University with evidence of their right to study in the UK.

University Regulation 6.2.i states that “all students must provide the University with current, valid identity documents to evidence their eligibility to study in the UK. Failure to provide ID or present documents for verification as required, will result in the University withdrawing the student from study”.

Fee status

A student’s Fee status does not have any relationship to a student’s immigration status or affect the requirement to provide evidence of right to study.  For example, a student with home fee status must still provide evidence of right to study and may be an ‘international student’ in terms of immigration status.

Students must upload their documents within three weeks of the course start date. For example, a student with a course start date of 1 December would need to upload their evidence by 22 December. Failure to upload your evidence before the deadline given above could result in you being withdrawn from your course.

Login to your e:Vision account to upload your documents

UK and Republic of Ireland Students need to provide evidence in one of the below formats

  • A clear colour photograph of both pages of a UK/Republic of Ireland Passport or
  • Long version of UK birth or adoption certificate issued in the UK/Channel Islands/Isle of Man or Ireland and an official document showing your permanent National Insurance number and your name issued by a Government agency or previous employer (eg P60 or P45) or
  • Certificate of registration or naturalisation as a British citizen and an official document showing your permanent National Insurance number and your name issued by a Government agency or previous employer (eg P60 or P45).

Examples of accepted documents

Please see below for examples of accepted documents.

Passports must show your:

  • passport number
  • full name
  • date of birth
  • nationality
  • country of birth
  • the 'official observations' page.

Birth certificates must show the birthplace of both your parents.

If the name on your document does not match the name on your student record, we will need to see some evidence that explains the name change, for example; a marriage certificate, decree of divorce or deed poll document.

If you only have an expired UK/Republic of Ireland passport, then please contact right-to-study@york.ac.uk

International Students not from the UK or Republic of Ireland need to provide evidence of their Right to Study

Examples of Right to Study evidence include, but aren't limited to:

  • eVisa and EU Settled Status (EU/EEA/Swiss students)
  • Asylum Registration Card (ARC)
  • Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) or Visitor Visa

Frequently asked questions

I have an eVisa or EU Settled Status - what do I upload?

Please upload evidence of your eVisa or settled status, selecting the correct visa type. This can be either the decision letter or screenshot of your immigration status from your UKVI account and a valid share code.

For more information on proving your immigration status with share codes, please visit this International Student Support webpage. Please ensure that the share code starts with an *S*.

I am using an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) or Visitor Visas - what do I upload?

If you are studying with us for less than six months and using an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) or Visitors Visa to complete your studies, please upload a copy of the ETA decision letter or Visitors Visa, and evidence of the date that you will arrive in the UK, such as flight ticket, boarding pass or passport border stamp. 

My 'leave to remain' is indefinite - what do I put as the expiry date?

If you are uploading evidence that does not have an end date, ‘Indefinite Leave to Remain’ or ‘no time limit’, please use the end date 01/01/2099.

How do I generate a share code?

Visit the check immigration status with a sharecode web page for guidance. Please ensure the sharecode starts with an 'S' for Right to Study.

I am not able to provide my right to study evidence - what should I do?

There are several reasons you might not have been able to upload your evidence to e:Vision, including, but not limited to

  • Still awaiting a decision on an application
  • Issues with your eVisa account.

It is important that you email right-to-study@york.ac.uk if you are unable to provide the University with evidence of your Right to Study in the UK by the given deadline.

If you are waiting for a decision on a visa application, please contact us using the above email address, explaining the situation and including evidence of your application.

My right to study document expires during my studies - what do I need to do?

You will be required to provide evidence of your continuing right to study when your current permission expires.

We will contact you before your current permission expires to request that you do this. When you receive our email, if you are still waiting for a decision on your visa renewal application, please email right-to-study@york.ac.uk, explaining the situation and including evidence of your visa application.